Introduction
The Second World War was the most brutal war in American History. The amount of losses, destruction of property, and time lost were some of the many causalities resulting from this war. However, this war did account for many advancements that led us to what technologies we have today, vehicle technologies to be exact. The World War truly was a time of true vehicular advancement, new vehicles coming providing a new battle front. It is the moment we have all been waiting for. Introducing the revolutionary vehicle that greatly caused us to "reach the sky" as regards to vehicular advancement: the World War II Aircraft.
The MechanicsAlthough powered planes were invented in 1903, they were first used in combat in World War I. Planes during WWI were not nearly as effective as those in WWII because many vast improvements were made to aircraft technology during the interwar years. In WWI, military planes were averaging around 70mph. However; in WW2, many planes could exceed 500mph.
Most planes in the very early 1900's used 4 cylinder engines powered by gasoline, which were similar to car engines of the time. These engines rarely exceeded 12 horsepower. In WWI, planes were moved by propellers, usually made of laminated wood, which as one could imagine, did not allow much maneuvering in the air. Hans von Ohain in Germany and Frank Whittle in England each invented the jet engine around the same time without knowing of eachother's work. Although Whittle was the first to apply for a patent in 1930, Ohain's jet was the first to fly in 1939. These unintentional cofounders of the jet engine revolutionized aviation completely. In WW2, many of the most effective plane models used jet engines and by the end of the war, they were being used in most of the combat planes from both sides of the war. |
United States of AmericaMilitary aircraft were a vital part of the United States' military force during World War II. It was so important that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, a military aircraft base, in hopes that severely damaging the US air force would help them take control of the Philippines with no trouble. And while everyone else improved air combat tactics and fortified aircraft, the United States made some innovations of their own. In collaboration with the British, the US developed the P-51 Mustang, the B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and the famous B-29, another long-range bomber.
The US, along with the Germans and the British, also began to experiment with jet fighters, aircraft powered by the fast jet engine, with no propellers. They also developed pilot-less, guided missiles, although those didn’t see much action in real combat. The bulk of the fighting was still done with propelled aircraft piloted by humans. Finally, the US air force was instrumental in ending the War in the Pacific Theater. A B-29 bomber, called the Enola Gay, was used to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Without aircraft, World War II probably would have had a much different outcome. |
Nazi GermanyMuch like the United States, military aircraft proved essential to Germany’s success early in World War II. Germany launched its conquering campaign with heavy air strikes. The German air force, called the Luftwaffe, was used to take control of Denmark and Holland early, a foreshadowing of what was to come for France. Fighters such as the Messerschmitt BF-109 and the Focke Wulf 190 were instrumental in Nazi attacks from the sky.
The Battle of Britain showcased Germany’s awesome aerial firepower. Explosions after explosions were heard throughout British cities such as London as they were bombed by the Nazi air force, in an attempt to knock the British out of the war. But the British would not back down, sending their own air fleet to combat the Germans. This battle was a testament to the sheer importance and impact aircraft had on the war. The Germans were also engaged in making quick improvements to their aircraft. Germany used jet fighters in some combat missions, testing out its speed, effectiveness, and efficiency. Germany also launched its V1 and V2 weapons, which fired pilot-less, guided missiles. Still, most of the fighting was done with propelled aircraft with human pilots. Aircraft proved to be invaluable to the success of the Nazis in World War II. Without its supreme air force, Germany wouldn’t have experienced nearly as much success as it did during the war. |
Positive Impact?Planes, can be argued, have greatly impacted human lives politically, economically, and socially. Planes cause a great advantage in war, allowing for the carrying of supplies, troops, and weapons much faster across land than trains. They provide for much faster speed than ships, also allowing for faster travel across oceans and seas. This allows ambassadors to reach their countries faster, in order to resolve sensitive issues that suddenly emerge. It can be concluded that planes had allowed for better/more efficient communication between different countries of the time.
Economically, these planes have provided for easier transport of goods and services across the globe, stimulating the national and world market. With concepts such as online shipping springing companies such as Amazon, it can be said that the plane helped solidify the online market in our society. They also allow for jobs in airline businesses, with people purchasing tickets for travel, business, etc. Also, with the emergence of the plane, our social demographic greatly changed. The easier it is to get from Point A to B, the more people are willing to get up and move. Planes allowed for more people to leave their homelands and enter as immigrants in many countries across the world. Now, someone from Europe can reach the United States much faster and in much safer conditions than before. However, with greater advancement, their comes greater consequence. |
Negative Impact?Although planes have many positive effects, their negative ones greatly impact our society. Referring to the World War, the amount of damage done by planes across the globe led to most of the total damage caused by the war itself. As technology advances, destruction increases. The atomic bomb would not be dropped if it weren't for the advancement of the plane. In fact, no bombs would be dropped at all. Their wouldn't be anything to carry them! Plane bombers during the war caused losses in life, land, and liberty across the globe. And not just during the World War; planes still cause damage in current day wars, and it can be argued that it has gotten worse. Planes have now been invented with much heavier artillery and so on. Even out of war, the risk of passenger planes crashing or disappearing (such as the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370) are a great consequence. There are just some vehicles that are weighed between efficiency and loss, and they are so embedded into society, that their risk is constantly overlooked.
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Bibliography (Chicago)
"World War II Aircraft." World War II Aircraft - Engineering and Technology History Wiki. September 28, 2015. Accessed April 25, 2017. http://ethw.org/World_War_II_Aircraft.
Bellis, Mary. "Who Invented the Jet Engine?" ThoughtCo. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
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